First Solar and Southern California Edison (SCE) has entered into power purchase agreements (PPAs) covering four solar projects. SCE will offtake electricity generated by the projects, totaling 500MW, over the duration secured in the agreements.

With the PPAs, SCE not only became the largest single off-taker of energy from First Solar projects in the world, but also will own 2.2GW of solar capacity. In advance to the PPAs, the two parties have cooperated for multiple projects including the 21MWac Blythe Solar Project in 2009 and a long-term agreement for 250MWac of capacity of the 550MWac Desert Sunlight Solar Project in Desert Center in 2014.

The 500MW of projects covered by the latest signed PPAs are:

• The 150MWAC North Rosamond Solar Project, located in Rosamond, Calif., will occupy approximately 1,175 acres of private land, and will produce approximately 488,000 MWh/year.
• 100MWAC from the Willow Springs Solar Project, located near the North Rosamond Solar Project in Rosamond, Calif., which will occupy approximately 1,450 acres of private land, and will produce approximately 330,000 MHh/year.
• The 100MWAC Sunshine Valley Solar Project will be located in Amargosa, Nev., less than four miles from the California border, on privately owned land. It will produce approximately 302,000 MWh/year.
• The 150MWAC Sun Streams Solar Project will be located on approximately 1,500 acres of land in Tonopah, Ariz., and will produce approximately 464,000 MWh/year.

These projects are expected to become operational by the end of 2019.

“This is an exciting milestone to reach in a valued long-term relationship,” said Brian Kunz, First Solar’s Vice President of Project Development – US West. “As an early off-taker, SCE was visionary in their inclusion of utility-scale solar in their energy mix. Their commitment to providing rate-payers with clean, affordable renewable energy continues with this set of agreements.”

SCE has additional projects under construction in California and Nevada.